Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church Saint-Maixent de Veigné, located in the Indre-et-Loire department in the Centre-Val de Loire region, finds its origins in the 12th century. Although the current building was almost entirely rebuilt in 1873, it retained significant elements of its medieval structure, including the base of the choir walls and a characteristic mit bell tower. It has been listed in the inventory of historic monuments since 1961.

The territory of Veigné, where the church stands, is marked by an ancient human occupation, attested from the Paleolithic, but it was in the Carolingian era that the locality was mentioned for the first time in the written sources. The medieval history of Veigné is closely linked to the Abbey of Cormery, which owns the Priory of Saint-Maixent from the twelfth century. This priory, as well as the church, play a central role in the religious and social life of the parish.

Over the centuries, Veigné underwent major changes, notably with the creation of the parish of Montbazon in the 16th century, which changed local territorial and economic boundaries. The church of Saint-Maixent, although rebuilt, remains a symbol of this historical continuity. Its bell tower, typical of the churches of the Indre Valley, bears witness to the medieval religious architecture of the region.

The municipality of Veigné, crossed by Indre and marked by a varied geology, was also the scene of historical events, such as the passage of the troops of the Black Prince in 1356 or the devastating floods of Indre in the 17th and 18th centuries. Despite these upheavals, the Saint-Maixent church, with its preserved bell tower, remains a heritage and cultural landmark for the local community.

In the 19th century, the reconstruction of the church took place in a context of modernisation and demographic development of Veigné, linked to the industrialisation of Tours and the improvement of road and rail infrastructure. Today, the church, although partially transformed, continues to symbolize the historical and religious anchor of Veigné in the landscape of Tourangeau.

Future

Saint Maixent is today the central church of the Catholic parish of Saint Brice in the Indre Valley: there is at least one Mass celebrated every Sunday at 11am.
Welcome and more information on the parish website

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